Cross-border links to Pahalgam terror attack: India downgrad
Cross-border links to Pahalgam terror attack: India downgrades diplomatic ties with Pakistan
India on Wednesday suspended the Indus Water Treaty and announced downgrading diplomatic ties with Pakistan in view of cross-border links to the Pahalgam terror attack
In this image released by PMO on Wednesday, April 23,
2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on
Security (CCS), in New Delhi. At least 26 people were killed in a terror attack
in Pahalgam of Jammu & Kashmir, on Tuesday. (PTI Photo)
NEW DELHI — India on Wednesday suspended the Indus Water Treaty and announced
downgrading diplomatic ties with Pakistan including expulsion of its military
attaches in view of cross-border links to the Pahalgam terror attack.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met this evening
under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and firmed up the
responses to the terror attack.
The CCS also decided to close the Integrated Check Post
at Attari with immediate effect, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said at a late
evening press briefing.
It is learnt that the CCS lasted for around
two-and-a-half hours.
Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to
India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) and any such visas issued in
the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled, Misri said.
The CCS decided that the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will
be held in abeyance with immediate effect, until Pakistan credibly and
irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism, he said.
On closing of the Integrated Check Post at Attari, Misri
said those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through
that route before May 1.
Misri said, "The defence, military, naval and air
Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi are declared Persona Non
Grata."
They have a week to leave India, he said.
India will be withdrawing its own defence, navy and air
advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
"These posts in the respective High Commissions are
deemed annulled. Five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be
withdrawn from both High Commissions," he said.
"The overall strength of the High Commissions will
be brought down to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions, to be
effected by May 1," he said.
The CCS was briefed in detail on the terrorist attack on
Tuesday in Pahalgam that left 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen dead.
"A number of others sustained injuries. The CCS
condemned the attack in the strongest terms and expressed its deepest
condolences to the families of the victims and hoped for the early recovery of
the injured," Misri said.
"Strong expressions of support and solidarity have
been received from many Governments around the world, which have unequivocally
condemned this terror attack," he said.
The foreign secretary said the CCS recorded its
appreciation for such sentiments, which reflect zero tolerance for terrorism.
In the briefing to the CCS, the cross-border linkages of
the terrorist attack were brought out, he said.
"It was noted that this attack came in the wake of
the successful holding of elections in the Union Territory (Jammu and Kashmir
and its steady progress towards economic growth and development," he said.
Misri said the CCS reviewed the overall security
situation and directed all forces to maintain high vigil.
"It resolved that the perpetrators of the attack
will be brought to justice and their sponsors held to account," he said.
"As with the recent extradition of Tahawwur Rana,
India will be unrelenting in the pursuit of those who have committed acts of
terror, or conspired to make them possible," he said.
